Iraq Urges Legal Action as Turkey Restricts Water Flow Amid Growing Drought

Iraq Urges Legal Action as Turkey Restricts Water Flow Amid Growing Drought
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Despite extensive economic ties with Turkey, Iraq continues to face severe water shortages as Ankara reduces the flow of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, worsening drought conditions and leaving vast farmlands barren. Annual trade between the two countries is estimated at $15–20 billion, yet the water crisis has forced hundreds of thousands of farmers to abandon their lands and migrate to urban areas.

Iraqi lawmaker Adel al-Rikabi called on the Justice Ministry to file a complaint against Turkey at the United Nations, accusing Ankara of violating international water agreements. He criticized the government for failing to take firm action and urged the use of legal, diplomatic, and even economic measures if necessary.

Parliamentary Foreign Relations Committee member Haider al-Salami also warned that Baghdad remains the weaker party in negotiations, despite holding strong leverage. Analysts argue that Iraq must prioritize the water issue and reconsider its trade relations to safeguard national water rights and avert an environmental and social disaster.